Representation Matters →

At Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR), we are proud of our work in partnership with community allies to protect voting rights and ensure diverse representation. As yesterday’s election results continue to roll in, we see encouraging signs across Massachusetts: After nearly 200 years of electing white men as Mayor, Boston has finally broken...

Black & Latino Voters Announce Settlement of Voting Rights Against Worcester, MA →

Black and Hispanic/Latino/a Voters Announce Settlement Of Voting Rights Case Against Worcester, MA The diverse coalition of Hispanic/Latino/a and Black voters that filed a groundbreaking federal voting rights lawsuit against the City of Worcester alleging that its method of electing its School Committee illegally dilutes the vote of communities of...

Massachusetts Redistricting Maps →

STATEMENT ON MASSACHUSETTS REDISTRICTING MAPS Today, the State Legislature released proposed redistricting maps identifying the reconfiguration of Massachusetts' Senate and House of Representatives districts. The proposed maps are encouraging. Senator William N. Brownsberger and Representative Frank A. Moran have clearly worked hard to incorporate community voices and perspectives, not to mention balancing a...

Summer Justice →

Injustice doesn't take a break during the summer. That's why our legal warriors have been busy fighting for equality and justice.   On the policing front, we're suing the Needham Police Department on behalf of Marvin Henry, a Black man who was arrested and falsely accused of shoplifting. We're also publicly calling for greater police transparency and fairness.In...

Minority Voters Demand Electoral Changes in Haverhill →

On the heels of several Massachusetts cities – including Lowell and Worcester – moving away from all “at-large” electoral systems for electing their city councils and school committees, minority voters in Haverhill are demanding a more democratic and representative electoral system. Led by the Latino Coalition, an organization whose mission is...

Victory! Worcester Will Change School Committee Elections →

Plaintiffs In Voting Rights Lawsuit Applaud Worcester’s Announcement That It Will Change Method Of Electing School Committee City Says It Won’t Fight Lawsuit, Which Alleges Current Electoral System Illegally Dilutes The Vote Of Communities of Color The diverse coalition of Plaintiffs in a federal voting rights case challenging the City...

Minority Population Growth Changes Electoral Districts →

Minority Population Growth Changes Five Majority-White Electoral Districts to Majority-Minority  Census Data May Confirm That Even More Majority-Minority Districts Are Viable A new analysis commissioned by Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) and conducted by Professor Maxwell Palmer of Boston University provides a preview of the opportunities that lie ahead to make representative...

Voting Rights Lawsuit Filed Against Worcester, MA →

Voting Rights Lawsuit Filed Against Worcester, MA A coalition of Black and Hispanic/Latino/a residents of Worcester today filed a federal voting rights lawsuit alleging that the City’s at-large system for electing School Committee members discriminates against communities of color. The plaintiffs also include community organizations Worcester Interfaith and the National...

Response to the White Supremacist Coup →

Statement in Response to the White Supremacist Coup Lawyers for Civil Rights Calls for Independent Investigation and Charges Against Lynch Mob January 7, 2020 At Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR), we want everyone to sit with the discomfort of the deadly white supremacist insurrection at the Capitol. We cannot let...

Statement on Supreme Court’s Decision in Trump v. New York →

Lawyers for Civil Rights condemns the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Trump v. New York to vacate the well-reasoned decision of the three-judge panel that found the Trump Administration's attempt to exclude undocumented immigrants from the congressional apportionment base unlawful. Multiple three-judge panels across the country -- from California, New York and...

2020 Annual Report →

We are excited to share our 2020 annual report. The report is available here. Please click here to download the report.

Immigrants to Census Bureau: We’re Here and We Count →

Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) and Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP filed a friend-of-the-court (amicus curiae) brief in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of national organizations and Boston-based immigrants' rights and faith-based groups in Trump v. New York, the case that will determine whether undocumented immigrants may be considered in the apportionment...

Democratizing Redistricting in 2021 →

While our work to safeguard the vote during the 2020 election cycle has concluded, democracy doesn’t stop here.  Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) is launching Democratizing Redistricting in 2021 to ensure that the forthcoming redistricting process is fair, equitable, transparent, and community driven. This work will be coordinated with community and coalition...

Open Letter to Biden/Harris Transition Team →

Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) sent an open letter to the Biden-Harris Transition team identifying urgent legal and policy issues that are currently affecting people of color and immigrants across the country. The letter identifies seven critical areas for immediate executive action, and urges the new Administration to prioritize the...

The Repair Work Begins Now →

STATEMENT FROM NOVEMBER 7, 2020 Lawyers for Civil Rights has played a critical role over the last four years securing major legal relief, including nation-wide injunctions, against executive actions that would harm people of color and immigrants.  We've also stopped the dismantlement of long-standing federal programs designed to protect people of color and...

Shenanigans on Election Day? →

Lawyers for Civil Rights and our community allies run non-partisan Election Protection in Massachusetts. Election Protection is a long-standing voter protection effort that aims to ensure that every eligible voter is able to cast a meaningful ballot on Election Day. We’re supporting voters to make sure the election runs smoothly and fairly. Please report problems to help us maintain the...

Boston Must Provide More Drop-Boxes for the Election →

Communities of Color Are Particularly At Risk of Disenfranchisement  In an open letter issued to Mayor Marty Walsh and Boston's Election Department,  Lawyers for Civil Rights is urging the City of Boston to provide additional secure municipal drop-boxes in advance of the November election. Our experience with the September primary—during which Boston...

Election Protection Coalition Flags Vote-by-Mail Issues →

“Election Protection” Coalition Flags Vote-by-Mail Issues In Primary Election in Massachusetts  Seeks More Volunteers, Urges Election Officials To Fix Problems Before November Massachusetts experienced a momentous Primary Election with the inaugural roll-out of vote-by-mail (VBM) and the first extended early voting period for a Primary Election. As a result, the Bay...